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With Blue Angels out, NAS considers cancelling air show

Jacksonville Naval Air Station considers calling off its fall event.

A formation of U.S. Navy Blue Angel fighter jets perform a flyover during the United States Naval Academy graduation on May 29 in Annapolis, Md. The Blue Angels called of the rest of this year's shows. Patrick Semansky Associated Press

Bruce.Lipsky@jacksonville.com The Blue Angels flash by in formation above a crowd of thousands of spectators during the Jacksonville Sea and Sky Spectacular on Oct. 21, in Jacksonville Beach.

Now that the Navy’s Blue Angels have called off their remaining shows this year because of budget cuts, local military leaders are discussing the possibility of throwing the towel in on the air show at Jacksonville Naval Air Station this fall.

That’s a move that could have a ripple effect throughout the First Coast economy.

“We are in conversation now to determine if our air show … will be canceled,” said Miriam Gallet, public affairs officer at NAS. “Once a decision is made — one way or the other — I will let you know.”

The show — minus the Navy’s premier flight demonstration group — is slated for Oct. 26-27.

By canceling the Blue Angel’s 33 shows left across the country, the Navy is saving about $28 million. The move, announced Tuesday, is part of cost-cutting measures in response to automatic budget cuts known as sequestration.

State and city leaders say the cancellation, along with the possibility of the NAS show being taken off the calendar, could hurt local businesses.

In a statement Tuesday, Gov. Rick Scott described the Blue Angel news as “a major blow to families and jobs in Pensacola and the nation.”

“Families come from everywhere to enjoy the show and watch America’s military might on display,” Scott said. “These visitors fill area hotels, they eat at our restaurants and enjoy our beaches.”

While Visit Jacksonville does not keep specific economic impact numbers on the show held at NAS, the city’s convention and visitors bureau said the absence of the Blue Angels this year will mean a loss in tourism money.

About 250,000 people — many of them from out of town — routinely attend the show featuring the Navy’s elite pilots. Last year, when the Blue Angels performed at an air show at Jacksonville Beach, “we estimate that every hotel was full,” said Patty Jimenez, communications manager with Visit Jacksonville.

Aside from economic concerns, Jimenez said while fans of the Blue Angels and air shows in general will be hurt, the city misses an opportunity to show itself off to thousands of visitors.

“So sad,” she said. “It puts us in a difficult position of trying to come up with other ways to showcase our city.”

City Hall officials declined to comment on the situation, referring questions to NAS.

While Gallet said Tuesday that no official announcement has been made on the NAS show, the situation does not look good.

The Department of Defense, because of budget constraints, has announced that civilian workers will likely face mandatory furloughs this year. In that type of climate, it would be hard to justify paying for an air show.

Skip Stewart, a civilian pilot who has performed at air shows across the country for 14 years, said the majority of air shows are held either on military bases or are supported by nearby military bases. With the Navy grounding the Blue Angels and other military branches canceling similar flight demonstrations because of federal cuts, attendance will undoubtedly be down at all air shows held off bases. That leads to cancellations of shows.

“I’ve already had three shows canceled and I expect more,” said Stewart, who is based in Tennessee.

Stewart performed at the NAS show in 2011 and is scheduled to perform at this year’s show. If it is called off, he will not be paid his fee of “just under $10,000.” He is facing the possibility of losing about $80,000 altogether this year.

But apart from civilian performers like himself, Stewart said contractors, big and small, are hurt financially.

“Look, this is detrimental to so many businesses up and down the line,” he said. “They are taking hits.”

Janice Lowe, manager of The Jacksonville Landing, said that while the downtown area does not typically see any increased traffic from the annual air show, she understands how businesses could be affected.

“As a business that lives and dies with specific events like that, it could be devastating,” Lowe said.